Chair structure



May 3, 1938. J. D. R GERS 2,115,879

CHAIR STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 11, 1937 INVENTOR- 'FIG.4 JACKSON 0. RooEFis BY WM/Qv ATTORNEYS Patented May 3, 1938 U E STATES .--orrice f Jackson D. itogers,Bay viuagaohm I Application October 11, 1937, s ri iivo. 1ss,3oo* 3Claims. (or; 155-194) This invention relates to improvements in chair structures. a n

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a very simple chair'structure comprising back and seat members'each formed from 'a single sheet of metal, the members being adapted to meet along straight meeting edges where they are provided with angularly extending flanges which are rigidly secured together. 10 Another novel feature of my invention is the provision of sheet metalback andseat members having straight meeting edges provided with integral flanges rigidly secured together, the sheet metal members also having longitudinally extending. deformations providing a rigidifying effect. If desired, the sheet metal members may also have rigidifying deformations extending crosswise of the chair. My invention also involves a chair structure 20 embodying any of the above mentioned features and suitable supporting frame means which here includes a continuous metalmember at each side of the chair and secured to a sideedge'of the seat member and extending upwardly and rear- 2 wardly and secured to a side edge of the back member and then extending downwardly to support the chair in any suitable manner on a surface.

My invention also provides a novel formof 3 chair supporting frame means which includes a continuous metal bar or tube secured to the seat and back-of the chair on one side and; extending downwardly, then forwardly, then across the chair, then rearwardly and then upwardly and 5 forwardly and secured to the backand seat of the chair on theopposite side. This supportingframe member may carry wheel means where desirable.

The above mentioned features are generally '40 applicable to any type of chair structure and in.

addition thereto, I have provided certain novel features in connection with a wheel chair wherein a limb supporting portion extends forwardly of the seat portion of the chair and is provided 45 at its forward end with novel leg frame means adapted to serve as handles when the chair is wheeled, making use of wheels supported at the back end of the chair. This leg frame means may be arranged in a novel manner and'here 50 has suitable leg portions and portions integral therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom beneath the limb-supporting portion and the seat portion of the chair and secured thereto, both to provide a strong construction for wheeling the- 55 chair about and in one form strengthening the Joint between the seat portion and'the limb supporting portion of. the chair. This leg frame means may-also be secured'to the arm' rests and wheel frame means previously mentioned where'- by the entire frame meansof the chair is strong- 5 1y formed and rigidlysecured' together.

Other novel featuresjof my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and description and the essential features will be setforth in the claims. f 1

In the drawing,-Fig; 1 is'a general perspective 1 vlew of a wheel chair embodying my invention, one portion being broken away to more clearly show the structure; Figs. 2'and 3 are detail fragmental sectional, views taken respectively along the lines 2'- 2*and 3 40f Flg. 1 and Fig. 4 is a'fragmental detail view showing a manner of mounting the wheel means.

One of the novel featuresof my chair is the formation of a back member-land a seat thember I] each out of asingle sheet of metal and which members may have formed therewith, integrally or otherwise, flanges Iliaand Ila along straight meeting edges. When ,thechair is assembled, these flanges are rigidly "secured' together by-any suitable'means, 'such'as the bolts I2 illustrated. 1

"To rigidify' the'back and seat-members, the metal thereof may be deformed longitudinally,

as for instance byforming the side flanges lb and Ill). Tofurth'er rigidify and decorate these members, deformations I extending crosswise thereof maybe provided-as indicated'at I 3; The back and seat members may be further decorated and" ventilated by openings, suchfas those indi catedatll. g

Frame me'ans' 'for supporting thechair seat and back membersabove' afloor orother' surface is provided and thisframe means'also has novel characteristics. On each side .of the chair is a 4 continuous metal frame bar or tube 15, each such bar or tube being secured at it to a side edge of the seat portion, then extending upwardly and rearwardly as at H to a point l8 where it is secured to a side edge of the back portion, then extending downwardly as at H, and then horizontally forwardly as at 20. -Thepor.-

' tions 20 if' desired may be disconnected portions on opposite sides of the chair and may rest upon a floor or other supporting surface directly. 5 However, to cheapen and strengthen the present chair structure, the portions 20 are connected by an integral cross portion 2| extending beneath the seat of the chair from side to side thereof.

Thus in the preferred form of the device the arm v My invention is here illustrated as embodied in a lounging chair having a limb supporting portion 25 extending forwardly from the seat portion [I and provided atits forward end with supporting legs 26. One manner of forming the limb supporting portion 25 is shown inFlg. 2 wherein such portionat the rear edge thereof is provided with an integralflange 25a adapted to meet a flange No of the seat These flanges are rigidly secured together by suitable means,

such as the bolts 21. The limb supporting portion may bevprovided with rigidifying deformations as already described in connection with the chair seat and back members, the side flanges of the limb supporting portion being marked 25b.

The supporting legs 25 may be arrangedin a novel manner to coact with other portions of the chair. As shown in the drawing, the end portions of the supporting legs 26 at the front of the chair are secured at 28 to the flanges 25b ofthe limb-supporting portion. The supporting legs then extend downwardly to the floor and are bent rearwardly and upwardly as at 29 to a point 30 where they meet the side flanges of the limb sup porting, portion of the chair and then extend therealong rearwardly below the chair seat portion. These rearwardly extending portions 3| of the supporting legs extend past the joint flanges 25a-| ic, beingfrigidly secured at 32 on opposite sides of this joint so that such portions 3| thus serve to strengthen the Joint, the width of the joint flanges 25a-| lc being such as to provide between the ends thereof and the flanges 25b, Nb of the limb-supporting and seatportions, respectively-the necessaryspaces for the passage of the frame-supportingportions 3|. As shown in Fig. 3, the portions 3| extend rearwardly to a point beneath the seat at 33 and are there secured in a suitable manner to the seat portion as for instance by the bolts indicated, which pass through the seat flanges 1 lb. At the points IS the securing bolts pass through both the frame arm means and the frame 188 Portions 3| so as to provide a rigid connection at these points. It will be seen from the above described chairstruc- It will be noted that ture that in the lounge type of chair with or without wheels, the rearwardly extending leg portions serve to strengthen the chair materially. In the wheel type of chair, the leg portions 26 provide handles by which the forward end of the chair may be raised to wheel the same on the wheels 24. At the same time where the arms means I5 is rigidly connected to the rearwardly extending leg portions 3|, as at |6, and secured'to the seat and back as previously described, it gives a very strong frame by which the entire chair structure may be tilted about the axle 22.

certain features of my invention are applicable to any chair. Particularly, I desire to point out the simplicity, cheapness and strength of a chair in which the back and seat are formed each of. a sheet of drawn steel, having the integral flanges Illa and I la extending angularly to the sheets and secured together at I2.

What I claim is: f I

a l. in a wheel chairstructure having connected back. and seat portions, support means including a continuous metal member secured to one edge of said seat'portionthenextending upwardly and rearwardly ,to saidback portion and secured to one edge thereof, said: memberthen extending downwardly, then horizontally in a front and rear direction, thenhorizontally across to the opposite side of the chair, .then horizontally in a front and rear directionparallel-to said first mentioned horizontal portion, then upwardly to a point where it is secured to the other side edge of the backportion, thenforwardly and downwardly where it is secured .to the other side edge of the seat portion, an axle carried by saidparallelhorizontal portions, and wheels carried by said axle-- 7 r 2. In a chair, complementary-seat and back members of sheet metal, outwardly flanged along their, contiguous edges .and interconnected by means joining :their flanges, and having correspondingly turnedflanges at their side edges concealing said joined flanges when the chair is.

viewed from the side.

3. In a chair, complementary seat and back members of sheet metal, said members being curved adjacent their adjoining edges such that the curvature of one is in continuation of the curvature of the other, and said members having outwardly turned flanges along their said con tiguous edges, and meansinterconnecting said flanges, each member having flangesat its side edges-connected to one of the flrstnamed flanges to maintain said curvature and conceal said interconnected flanges.

- JACKSON D. ROGERS. 

